Obituaries Obituaries (May 19, 2004)

Wilbur Clark
Optical laboratory owner

Wilbur (Bill) Clark, former owner of Wilby Optical Laboratory in Palo Alto, died May 4. A resident of Menlo Park since 1950, Mr. Clark was 89.

Mr. Clark was born in New Britain, Connecticut, and moved to California in 1944 with his wife, Geraldine. For many years he was a dispensing optician. He opened his own Wilby Optical Laboratory at Town and Country Village in 1957 and sold it in 1974, retiring at age 60.

Mr. Clark was also a musician, playing the saxophone and clarinet. He had a number of bands during the years. Some of his musicians, still known as Bill Clark's Band, entertain once a month at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto.

Mr. Clark is survived by his wife, Geraldine, whom he married in 1938. No funeral service was held. His ashes were sent to New Britain, Connecticut, for burial.

Cornelius Sartoris
General Motors employee

Cornelius U. Sartoris, a 25-year resident of Menlo Park, died May 11 at Stanford Medical Center. He was 92.

Mr. Sartoris was born in Auburn, Illinois, and lived in the Chicago area during his working years when he was a welder for General Motors Corp. He retired after 37 years of service. He and his wife, Helen, moved to Menlo Park in 1979.

Mr. Sartoris is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen; sons Frank of Brisbane and Nelson of Springfield, Ohio, and daughter Nella Nemeth of Crete, Illinois; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. His son David predeceased him.

Services were held May 13 at the Menlo Park chapel of Spangler Mortuaries. The family prefers memorials be to a charity of choice.

Don Koblick
Tri Anchor Marine owner

Don M. Koblick of Woodside, who sold electronic fishing equipment and gear to fishermen at Half Moon Bay, died April 12 of cancer. He was 78.

Mr. Koblick would arrive at the Pillar Point Harbor on weekends with his truck piled full of pieces of fishing equipment from his warehouse, according to an article in the May 21 issue of the Half Moon Bay Review. Bringing needed equipment to the fishing community at the harbor, Mr. Koblick "always brought a fatherly image to the fishermen," said Harbor Commissioner Pietro Parravano.

An article also said Mr. Koblick was instrumental in helping local fishermen secure the right to sell their catch directly from their boats.

His memory was honored with a parade of boats followed by a military ceremony held near the American Legion Post 474 building near the Pillar Point Harbor on May 1.

Mr. Koblick was born in San Francisco and moved to the Peninsula as a child. He graduated from Los Lomitas School and Sequoia High School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marines for three years and saw action in the South Pacific.

After the war he graduated from San Jose State University. Fifty years ago he started Tri Anchor Marine, based in San Carlos and Menlo Park.

Mr. Koblick was also a volunteer adviser for the Sea Scouts and the fishing community of Pillar Point Harbor, say family members.

Mr. Koblick is survived by his wife, Jeanne Durrell Koblick of Woodside; children John Leo Koblick of Manteca, Robert Nathan Koblick of Woodside, and Donna Jeanne O'Brien of Healdsburg; and four grandchildren.

The family prefers memorials made in Mr. Koblick's name to the Veterans Affairs Hospice Care, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

John Berrett
Attorney and judge

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 21, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for John Richard (Jack) Berrett, a Menlo Park resident of 53 years who died suddenly of cardiac arrest on April 24 while vacationing on a cruise ship. He was 83.

Mr. Berrett was born in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as an observer pilot with the artillery during World War II, rising to the rank of captain.

After graduating from Stanford Law School, he married Mary Ruth Freeman of Santa Cruz. He was in private practice in Redwood City for many years, and later became an unemployment insurance appeals judge. After retiring in 1990, he continued to work part-time until his death.

Mr. Berrett will be remembered for his integrity, generosity, kindness and sense of humor, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary; and children Judith and Richard Berrett; and nephew Michael Davis.

William Wood
Antique dealer

A celebration of the life of William (Bill) Wood will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, at Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley.

Mr. Wood, a resident of Portola Valley for 17 years, died May 3 of complications from Alzheimer's disease, from which he suffered for 11 years. He was 69.

Mr. Wood was born in England, where he played professional soccer for many years. After he and his wife, Marlene, were married, they emigrated to the United States in 1963.

The Woods opened an antique store, Tea Caddy Antiques, in Burlingame, which they operated for 22 years, before moving to Menlo Park. Tea Caddy Antiques is now located at 1060 Evelyn St.

Mr. Wood would have wanted to say thank you to all for the love and dedicated care given him for so many years, says his wife, Marlene, who is his only survivor. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Francis Joseph Van Poppelen
Silicon Valley pioneer

A memorial Mass will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 21, at Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park, for Francis Joseph (Joe) Van Poppelen Jr. of Atherton, an early leader in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Van Poppelen died May 11 in Rancho Mirage where he had a winter home. He was 76.

From 1975 to 1989, Mr. Van Poppelen was associated with National Semiconductor Corp., where he was senor vice president, worldwide marketing and sales, and a member of the CEO's management committee.

Mr. Van Poppelen was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was educated at Fairfield Prep, Cornell University and Northeastern University, where he graduated from the School of Business in 1952.

Early on in his career he worked in sales at General Electric, Motorola, and Signetics Corp., becoming president of the U.S. semiconductor division of International Telephone & Telegraph Corp. from 1965 to 1968. In 1968 he moved to Fairchild Camera & Instrument Corp., where he became group vice president, electronic equipment divisions, with seven divisions and 13 plants under his direction.

Since 1989 he had served as a consultant and business/marketing adviser to such firms as Advanced Micro Devices and Future Electronics. He served on the board of directors for GaSonics International, Novellus Systems, and ULSI Systems.

He was a former member of the Silicon Valley chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, now known as the National Conference for Community and Justice. He was a member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, serving on its board of directors, and a member of the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

Mr. Van Poppelen was a dedicated family man, consummate host and generous benefactor, say family members. He enjoyed golf, tennis, travel and dominoes.

He is survived by his wife, Marian; children, Linda Benevento of Portola Valley, Lauren Sabatini of Menlo Park, David Van Poppelen of Belmont, Eric Van Poppelen of Hermosa Beach, and Gretchen Mathews of Portola Valley; and seven grandchildren. The family prefers memorials be made to a charity of choice.

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